If you enter one of our fourth grade classrooms during a History period, you will see students busily working on iPads and excitedly sharing facts about Ancient China with their classmates. "Did you know that...?" "I just learned...!" they exclaim. During this History unit, we are using our students' genuine interests and curiosity as the basis for individual research projects.
Our many discussions about 21st century learning and inquiry-based learning inspired us to completely rethink our Ancient China unit. In the past, we had spent each week covering one aspect of life and culture in Ancient China. This year, we hope to make our teaching more student-centered and incorporate important research, time management, and presentation skills.
Our essential questions include:
How do we learn about the past?
Why should we study Ancient China?
How did Ancient China impact our lives today?
When launching this unit, we used Diigo to bookmark websites so that students could read about Ancient China and share new and interesting facts with their classmates.
I learned that it took over 1700 years to build the Great Wall of China, and that over 3000 people built it.
The ancient Chinese invented: paper, wheelbarrows, the decimal system, the water wheel, fireworks, paper money, the sundial, pottery wheel and ice cream. This interests me because I didn't know that most of the things that we use daily came from China.
By exploring websites independently, students were able to read about topics in which they were genuinely interested. Students enjoyed reading each others' posts and learning from their peers.
Our students are taking on the role of museum curators and becoming experts in a topic of their choice. Our culminating event for this unit will be an Ancient China Museum, in which students will teach visitors about their topics. We are allowing students to be creative with their presentation methods. They may choose to film a video, create a PowerPoint, come to life as a wax figure, design an art project...the possibilities are endless!
Timeline
Week One:
Introduce PowerPoint on "Lost Civilizations" and discuss why some civilizations endure, while others are forgotten
Students read various websites on Diigo and share interesting facts
Week Two:
Introduce Ancient China Museum project
Students receive curator's logs and begin to research using books and iPads
List 3 possible topics and explain why they are interested in each
Choose research topic and begin taking notes (webs, boxes/bullets, listing facts)
Utilize Twitter to communicate between classes by sharing facts and building enthusiasm
Teachers compile necessary materials for projects (paint, clay, model magic, poster board, etc.)
Combine classes during History periods to allow students to either work in the classroom or computer lab
Create their museum exhibits
Week Five:
Finish exhibits and plan presentations
Rehearse their presentations with a partner--partners give and receive feedback in the form of "glows and grows" (what went well/what they can improve)
Reflect on the process--what was rewarding and what was challenging
Ancient China Day! Students present their projects to Lower School students, teachers, and parents
Ancient China Project
If you enter one of our fourth grade classrooms during a History period, you will see students busily working on iPads and excitedly sharing facts about Ancient China with their classmates. "Did you know that...?" "I just learned...!" they exclaim. During this History unit, we are using our students' genuine interests and curiosity as the basis for individual research projects.
Our many discussions about 21st century learning and inquiry-based learning inspired us to completely rethink our Ancient China unit. In the past, we had spent each week covering one aspect of life and culture in Ancient China. This year, we hope to make our teaching more student-centered and incorporate important research, time management, and presentation skills.
Our essential questions include:
When launching this unit, we used Diigo to bookmark websites so that students could read about Ancient China and share new and interesting facts with their classmates.
- I learned that it took over 1700 years to build the Great Wall of China, and that over 3000 people built it.
- The ancient Chinese invented: paper, wheelbarrows, the decimal system, the water wheel, fireworks, paper money, the sundial, pottery wheel and ice cream. This interests me because I didn't know that most of the things that we use daily came from China.
By exploring websites independently, students were able to read about topics in which they were genuinely interested. Students enjoyed reading each others' posts and learning from their peers.Our students are taking on the role of museum curators and becoming experts in a topic of their choice. Our culminating event for this unit will be an Ancient China Museum, in which students will teach visitors about their topics. We are allowing students to be creative with their presentation methods. They may choose to film a video, create a PowerPoint, come to life as a wax figure, design an art project...the possibilities are endless!
Timeline
Week One:
Week Two:
@**MsGrantsClass** Check out the AWESOME facts we discovered about Ancient China on #**Diigo**!! TGIF :)
@**MsJohnstonsClas** Thanks for sharing your facts! You taught us more about our topics! Read our research updates http://kidblog.org/MsGrantsHomeroom/ …
Week Three:
- Combine classes during common History periods to allow students to choose how/where to research (books/iPads in the classroom or computer lab)
- Continue taking notes
- Utilize Kidblog to share research updates and new facts
http://kidblog.org/MsGrantsHomeroom/ (Ancient China Research Updates)Week Four:
Week Five:
Week Six: